Auston Trusty Reflects on Celtic’s Resilience in Bologna

Auston Trusty, the Celtic center-half, lauded the impact of Martin O’Neill and his coaching staff following the team’s 2-2 draw in the Europa League against Bologna.

Trusty, who netted the pivotal second goal shortly after Reo Hatate’s red card, delivered a man-of-the-match performance as the Italian side sought a late winner. The team’s performance starkly contrasted with their previous outing in the competition against Roma, which took place under former coach Wilfried Nancy, who has since been relieved of his duties. O’Neill and assistant Shaun Maloney have returned for their second interim tenure this season.

“We had a successful period during his first term, and to have them back at the helm has revitalized us,” Trusty remarked. “Although our prior spell did not yield favorable results, we are now focused and determined to elevate our performance levels. This organization is built on a winning mentality, and we aspire to deliver commendable performances.

“While the players contribute significantly, the coaching staff’s expertise is equally vital. This is for the club, for the badge, and for all of us. It has been a challenging season, but it has revealed the true character of our team to recover from adversity.”

Despite playing with ten men for 56 minutes, Celtic displayed remarkable resilience, holding on for a crucial point in a tense final quarter at the bustling Renato Dall’Ara stadium. Trusty commented on the challenge of playing a man down, stating, “Going down to ten men for a significant portion of the match is not ideal. We had to dig deep and withstand the pressure, which we managed for most of the game. They equalized, but we secured a point.”

The defender emphasized his commitment to maintaining consistent performance levels each week, acknowledging that league games often do not present such intense pressure. “Many teams may falter under similar circumstances, but that is not the mentality we possess, nor is it one we are permitted to adopt.”

Trusty also addressed Hatate’s red card, noting that the midfielder expressed remorse for the incident that shifted momentum toward Celtic’s goal. “He apologized, but we’ve all experienced red cards at some point. Such incidents are part of football, and we support each other. We don’t hold it against him; we move forward in the game.”

Reflecting on his goal, Trusty remarked on its timely significance, stating, “The timing of my goal was excellent, allowing us to lead 2-0 at halftime. I glanced at the referee, concerned that someone might have been offside, which tempered my celebration. However, scoring my first European goal is a remarkable achievement, and I aspire to net more goals and celebrate with the fans.”